Golfing target including score area defining rings encased in flexible sleeves



Filed July 26, 1968 Sept. 1, 1970 G. H. MORRIS 3,526,405

GOLFING TARGET INCLUDING SCORE AREA DEFINING RINGS 2 Sheets-Sheet l ENGASED IN FLEXIBLE SLEEVES l7 IINVENTOR.

GEORGE H. MORRIS ATTOR N E Y5 Sept. 1, 1970 i G. H. MORRIS 3,526,405

GOLFING TARGET INCLUDING SCORE AREA DEFINING RINGS ENCASED IN FLEXIBLE SLEEVES 2 Sheets-Sheet :3

' Filed July 26, 1968 INVENTOR. v GEORGE H. MORRIS ATTORNEYS United. States Patent 3,526,405 GOLFING TARGET INCLUDING SCORE AREA DEFINING RINGS ENCASED IN FLEXIBLE SLEEVES George H. Morris, 2952 N. 35th St., Kansas City, Kans. 66104 Filed July 26, 1968, Ser. No. 747,991 Int. Cl. A63b 69/36 US. Cl. 273-181 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A golf game and practice apparatus has a target member of fabric, mesh or other suitable flexible material presenting a surface facing a player position, the surface being tilted or inclined upwardly away from the player position and has a plurality of outstanding target area defining and scoring rings encased in fabric sleeves radially spaced from a central opening in said target member. A plurality of drop out openings are radially spaced from the central opening and are positioned at a low point within the innermost ring and within each scoring area formed between adjacent rings. The fabric material and the rings are supported on spaced mounts which have retainers for engaging the rings and fabric. The fabric material is secured in an elongated way in the outermost scoring ring by retaining clips. A golf ball hit or pitched onto the target member will enter the central opening or one of the drop out openings and drop into a separate groove in an elongate inclined ball receiving and delivering member and roll therealong onto a putting surface toward an opening therein. The spacing of the golf ball from the opening in the putting surface being substantially proportional to the distance of the impact of the pitch shot from the center of the target member.

This invention relates to an apparatus for golf games and golf practice and more particularly to apparatus simulating the pitch and putt portion of a golf game.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide golf game and practice apparatus particularly simulating the short game in golf; to provide such golf apparatus which is portable, easily set up, easily disassembled, and stored in a compact package; to provide such golf apparatus adapted to retain a golf ball striking an inclined target member and return said golf ball toward an opening in a putting surface; to provide such golf apparatus wherein the inclined pitch target member represents a golf green and has a plurality of radially spaced upstanding scoring rings for directing a golf ball intoone of a plurality of drop out openings above and aligned with an inclined ball receiving and delivering member directed toward the putting surface whereby the accuracy of the pitch shot is measured by the roll of the ball along the putting surface toward an opening therein; to provide such a golf apparatus wherein standard golf clubs for pitch shots and standard putters may be used; to provide such golf apparatus wherein the putting surface and a pitch surface are of a material substantially resembling natural sod on golf greens and fairways respectively; and to provide such golf apparatus which is economical to manufacture, durable and safe in use, and simple to use and score.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain ernbodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf game and practice apparatus embodying features of the present invention.

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FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the golf apparatus taken on line 22, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded detail view of adjacent sections of a scoring ring and a supporting post therefor.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line 44, FIG. 2 showing grooves in a ball receiving and delivering member and a drop out opening and chute aligned with one of the grooves.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5, FIG. 2 showing a supporting arm connected to the ball receiving and delivering member.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged exploded detail view of a mounting clip for securing a portion of a periphery of a target member within a way in an outermost scoring ring.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged exploded fragmentary view of a modified form of the scoring rings and supporting posts particularly adapted for setting up the golf game and practice apparatus indoors.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of a foot pad for indoor installation of the apparatus.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 generally designates a golf game and practice apparatus having a preferably circular target member 2 of flexible fabric, mesh, or the like for yieldingly receiving a golf ball 3 hit or pitched from a pitching portion of a surface 4 and for delivering the golf ball 3 to an elongate putting surface 5 having a cup opening 6 therein and spaced from the target member 2. The flexible target member 2 presents a facing surface to a player position at the pitching surface 4 and is tilted or inclined upwardly away from the play position. The golf game and practice apparatus 1 may be installed outdoors on a ground surface 7 or may be set up indoors on a suitable floor (not shown).

The golf game and practice apparatus 1 has a plurality of target area defining scoring rings 8 radially spaced from a central opening 9 in the target member 2 and a plurality of drop out openings 10 radially spaced from the central opening 9. The scoring rings 8 support the flexible target member, as later described. The drop out openings 10 are at a low point within the innermost of the rings 8 and at a low point within each of the scoring areas defined between adjacent rings 8. The golf ball 3 is pitched onto the target member 2 and will enter the central opening 9 or one of the drop out openings 10, or fall into an inclined ball receiving and delivering member 11 and roll therealong onto the putting surface 5 toward the cup opening 6 therein. The spacing of the golf ball 3 from the opening 6 in the putting surface 5 being substantially proportional to the distance of the impact of the pitched shot from the center opening 9.

The flexible target member 2 and the scoring rings 8 are supported on a support structure 14 which includes the ball receiving and delivering member 11 which is inclined or tilted upwardly relative to the ground surface 7 or the indoor floor (not shown). The ball receiving and delivering member 11 is illustrated as a channelshaped member having an elongate web portion 15 and spaced flanges 16 and 17 extending upwardly from opposed edges thereof. A plurality of ways 18 in the form of elongate ball receiving grooves are formed in an upper surface of the web portion 15 and are each adapted to receive the golf ball 3 from the flexible target member 2 and deliver same to the putting surface 5. The web portion 15 has a plurality of upstanding ridges or ribs 19 therebetween and separating the ways or grooves 18. Extending downwardly through the ridges or ribs 19 is at least one threaded bore 20 and at least one plain or unthreaded bore 21 for receiving target support post 22 or arms 23 respectively, as later described. It is preferable that the ball receiving and delivering member 11 be of a substantially rigid material, such as a molded or extruded thermosetting plastic, or the like.

The target support structure 14 also includes a plurality of the arms 23 pivotally or swingably connected to one end of the web portion 15 for swinging to a position extending outwardly therefrom and for swinging under the web portion for compactness in storage. In the illustrated structure, a pair of arms 23 each have one end pivotally or swingably connected to the web portion 15 by suitable fastening devices, such as pins or bolts 24, extending through plain or unthreaded bores 21 adjacent the one end of the Web portion 15. The fastening devices 24 are illustrated as bolts, each having a suitable nut, such as a wing nut 25 for securing the arms 23 in a selected position. The arms 23 also each have at least one threaded bore 26 and at least one plain or unthreaded bore 27 for receiving the target supporting posts 22 and legs 28 respectively, as later described.

The legs 28 are mounted at least at one intermediate point along each of the arms 23 and the web portion 15 and may be mounted at additional points as necessary to support the arms 23 and the ball receiving and delivering member 11 in an inclined or tilted position above the ground surface '7 of the indoor floor (not shown). The legs 28 are illustrated as elongate shafts or rods preferably of a suitable metal, such as steel, aluminum or the like and each has a pointed end 29 for penetrating the ground surface 7 and a threaded end 30 for mounting in the plain or unthreaded bores 21 of the web portion 15 or the plain or unthreaded bores 27 in the arms 23. Mounted on the threaded end 30 is an abutment member 31 for engaging a lower surface of the respective arm 23 or the ball receiving and delivery member 11. Also mounted on the threaded end 30 is a suitable fastener, such as a wing nut 32, for engaging an upper surface of the ridge or rib 19 of the web portion 15 or the upper surface of one of the arms 23. In the illustrated structure, the abutment member 31 is a nut which may be adjusted along the threaded portion of the threaded end 30 of the shaft or rod to position the respective arm 23 or ball receiving and delivering member 11 at the proper spacing above the ground surface 7 to thereby provide the desired tilt or incline of the flexible target member 2 relative to the pitching surface 4 and the player position thereat.

The support posts 22 are illustrated as elongate shafts or rods also preferably of a suitable metal, such as steel, aluminium, or the like and each has a threaded end 33 adapted to be received in either the threaded bores 20 in the web portion 15 or in the threaded bores 26 in the arms 23. The support posts 22 each have arcuate projections or ears 34 extending outwardly from opposed sides at the other end of the posts 22. The threaded end 33 is inserted into the respective threaded bore 20 or 26 and adjusted until the projections or ears 34 have a desired spacing above the support structure 14. In the illustrated structure, suitable fasteners, such as nuts 35 and 36, are adapted to move along the threaded end 33 to engage the upper and lower surface respectively of the web portion 15 or the arms 23 to thereby maintain a desired position of the projections or ears 34.

The flexible target member 2 is illustrated as a flexible ball receiving member formed of netting, mesh, fabric, or other suitable flexible material which will yield in response to the impact of the pitched golf ball 3 whereby the golf ball 3 will not bounce out of the golf apparatus 1 after striking the target member 2. It is preferable that the material also be weather resistant whereby the apparatus 1 may be installed outdoors. A central drop chute 37 depends from the net at the central opening 9' and is aligned with one of the ways or grooves 18 in the Web portion 15 whereby when the golf. ball 3 is hit or pitched perfectly onto the target member 2 it will enter the central opening 9, fall or drop through the central drop out chute 37, roll down the aligned way or groove 18 onto the putting surface 5, and roll toward and into the cup opening 6. Each of the drop out openings 10 has a drop out chute 38 aligned therewith and depending from the target member 2. The incline or tilt of the flexible target member 2 forms a low point adjacent each of the rings 8 and one drop out opening 10 and drop out chute 38 is positioned at the low point within the innermost ring 8 and a drop out opening 10 and a drop out chute 38 is positioned at the low point within each of the areas defined between adjacent rings 8 with each of the drop out chutes 38 being aligned with a separate way or groove 18.

In the illustrated structure, the rings 8 are each formed of a plurality of elongate arcuate sections 39 each having means on the ends thereof for receiving and retaining the ears or projections 34 of the posts 22. The ear receiving means is illustrated as socket means in the form of an elongate way or groove 40 preferably on an outer side 41 of each of the arcuate ring sections 39'. The way 40 corresponds to the ears or projections 34 and is adapted to receive same therein whereby the arcuate sections 39 are joined together to form one continuous ring 8.

The flexible target member 2 is supported by the rings 8 and has a plurality of elongate sleeves 42 radially spaced from the central opening 9 for receiving the arcuate sections 3 9 or one of the rings 8. The sleeves 42 are formed of netting, mesh, fabric, or other suitable flexible material similar to the material of the flexible target member 2. The sleeves 42 are each formed of a plurality of arcuate sections 43 which are separated by circumferentially spaced gaps 44 therebetween to permit the arcuate ring sections 39 to be inserted therein and to permit the projections or ears 34 to be inserted into the respective ways 40.

Proper tension is maintained in the flexible target member 2 by the method of mounting the periphery thereof on the outermost ring 8. In the illustrated structure, a plurality of mounting clips 45 engage a portion of the periphery of the target member 2 and secure same within the way 40 of the outermost ring 8 in clamping engagement. The mounting clips 45 are each received in and circumferentially spaced along the way 40 while clampingly engaging a respective portion of the periphery of the target member 2. Each clip 45 is illustrated as a U-shaped member having spaced flanges 46 and 47 extending outwardly from a web 48 and each flange 46 and 47 has a rib 49 and 50 outwardly from an exterior surface of the flanges 46 and 47 respectively. The mounting clips 45 are preferably formed of a resilient material, such as spring steel, whereby the flanges may be pressed together to permit the ribs 49 and 50 thereon to spring into clamping engagement with surfaces of the way 40 while engaging a portion of the periphery of the target member 2 upon release of the flanges 46 and 47.

In the illustrated structure, the flexible target member 2 is circular and has a central scoring area 51 within an innermost ring 52 and an outermost scoring area 53 between an outermost ring 54 and an intermediate ring 55. An intermediate scoring area 56 is formed between the intermediate ring and the innermost ring 52. The central opening 9 and the central drop out chute 37 are positioned at the center of the central scoring area 51 and an innermost drop out chute 57 and opening 58 is positioned within the innermost ring 52 and adjacent thereto at the low point formed by the tilted or inclined relation of the target member 2, with the horizontal. An outermost drop out chute 59 and opening 60 is positioned within the outermost scoring area 53 and adjacent the outermost ring 54 and an intermediate drop out chute 61 and opening 62 are positioned within the intermediate scoring area 56 adjacent the intermediate ring 55.

The pitch surface 4 and the putting surface 5 are separate mats whereby the pitch surface 4 may be spaced any desired distance from the golf apparatus 1 and may be positioned at any desired location relative to the pitch surface 4. It is noted that the putting surface and the ball receiving and delivering member 11 are aligned whereby the putting surface 5 may be relatively narrow thereby easily stored when not in use. The mat preferably has a thickness at least equal to the diameter of the golf ball 3 whereby the ball 3 will enter the cup opening :6.

In use the golf ball 3 is hit or pitched from the pitch surface 4 by means of a suitable iron (not shown) toward the flexible target member 2. 1f the pitch shot is perfect, the golf ball 3 will enter the central opening 9 and central drop out chute 37, fall or drop into a way or groove 18 in the ball receiving and delivering member 11 aligned therewith, roll down the channel shaped ball receiving and delivering member 11, roll onto and along the putting surface 5, and enter the cup opening 6. However, if the pitch shot is not perfect, the pitched golf ball 3 will enter one of the drop out openings 58, 60, or 62 and its respective chute 57, 59, or 61 thereby entering its separate way or groove 18, rolling down the tilted or inclined ball receiving and delivering member 11 and onto the putting surface 5, and rolling to a stop short of the cup opening 6. The golf ball 3 entering the innermost drop out opening 58 will roll to a stop closest to the cup opening 6 as indicated at 63 and the golf ball 3 entering the outermost drop out opening 60 will stop its roll farthest from the cup opening 6 as indicated at 64 while the golf ball 3 entering the intermediate drop out opening 62 will stop its roll at a point intermediate the point 63 and 64 as indicated at 65. The accuracy of the point of impact of the golf ball 3 on the target memher 2 is thereby graphically illustrated. The balls at the respective point 63, 64, and 65 are then putted toward and into the cup opening 6 with the number of strokes being counted and scored as in the regular game. It is to be understood that while three scoring areas 51, 53, and 56 have been illustrated a greater or lesser number may be used within the spirit of the present invention.

The golf game and practice apparatus 1 may be modified for indoor mounting as illustrated in FIG. 8. A planar pad 66 is mounted on the lower end of each of a plurality of target support legs 67 whereby the planar pad 66 will rest on a suitable floor surface 68. Target support posts 69 are also modified to include a pair of spaced arcuate projection 70 and 71 extending outwardly from opposed sides of the posts and ring sections 72 are each modified to have a pair of spaced ways 73 and 74 preferably on an outer side 75 of the respective arcuate ring section 72 for receiving the arcuate outstanding projections 70 and 71 respectively.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described certain forms of my invention, it is not to be limited to these specific forms or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A golf game apparatus comprising:

(a) support means;

(b) a target member mounted on said support means, said target member presenting a surface facing a player position and inclined'upwardly away from said position;

(c)a plurality of radially spaced rings engaging said target member and extending upwardly from said surface, said rings defining scoring areas within said target member;

(d) said target member having a central drop out opening and a plurality of radially spaced drop out openings, one of said spaced drop out openings being within each of said target scoring areas; and

(e) means below said target member and aligned with said central drop out opening and each of said plurality of spaced drop out openings for receiving a golf ball therefrom and delivering said golf ball outwardly from said target member;

(f) said target member includes a flexible ball receiving member having a periphery thereof mounted on the outermost of said plurality of said rings; and

(g) flexible ring receiving sleeves radially spaced from said central drop out opening for receiving at least one of said scoring area defining rings thereby supporting an intermediate portion of said flexible ball receiving member.

2. The golf game apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support mean includes:

(a) a plurality of arms swingably connected to one end of said ball receiving and delivering means;

(b) a plurality of legs supporting said arms; and

(c) a plurality of posts mounted on and extending upwardly from said arms and said ball receiving and delivering means for supporting said plurality of rings.

3. The golf game apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

(a) said posts each have spaced pairs of projections extending outwardly from opposed sides thereof; (b) said rings are each formed of a plurality of arcuate sections; and

(c) said arcuate ring sections each have spaced socket means for receiving and retaining each of said projections whereby said rings are supported by said posts.

4. The golf game apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including:

(a) a plurality of connected arms;

(b) a plurality of legs supporting said arms;

(c) a plurality of posts mounted on and extending upwardly from said arms for supporting said plurality of rings;

(d) said posts each have projections extending outwardly from opposed sides thereof;

(c) said rings are each formed of a plurality of arcuate sections; and

(f) said arcuate ring sections each have means for receiving and retaining said projections whereby said rings are supported by said posts.

5. The golf game apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mounting of said periphery of said flexible ball receiving member on said outermost ring includes:

(a) an elongate way in said outermost ring; and

(b) a plurality of mounting clips received in and spaced along said way, each of said mounting clips engaging a portion of said periphery of said ball receiving member and retaining same within said way.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,012,820 12/1911 Cory 273-182 1,771,466 7/1930 Scanlon 273182 X 2,164,808 7/1939 Everett. 2,450,125 9/1948 Dunfee 273-181 3,369,812 2/ 1968 McKee.

FOREIGN PATENTS 464,765 5/ 1950 Canada.

GEORGE J. MARLO, Primary Examiner U.S. C1.X.R. 

